Is Dan Gilbert the person to bring the biggest and fastest positive changes?

[Lowell]

The current Downtown Era [including the New Center to Downtown axis] becoming what it is today has many lesser and minor players of which Dan Gilbert is really just the latest and greatest.

I do not consider the Renaissance Center part of this era although their contribution is significant to the overall picture. It was a bold gesture but did not halt the downfall of Downtown Detroit as hoped and a 'dead zone' period ensured.

In the current downtown story the leadoff begins with Mike Ilitch moving his company downtown and refurbishing the Fox Theater and Building. Next we have Karmonos moving his company down and building his new headquarters. As much as you may hate to hear it, Coleman Young's successful play to get the casinos and Archer's successes in getting the Tigers and Lions to build played a great role both in terms of revenue for the city and building momentum.

Then up steps Gilbert, kind of like a heavy hitter with the bases loaded. I hope he hits it out the park and we achieve a critical mass tipping point.

What the heck even Kwame Kilpatrick played a role. By screwing up so royally he may have inadvertently blown up the last vestiges of old guard bureaucracies that have plagued city government.

[canuck]

There is a sense as darwinism said in his opening, that Gilbert is a player with a different kind of vision of capitalist heights and civic conscience allied to create more buzz in Detroit. The rencen seems to project a fortress mentality and this is not what Gilbert is attempting, he needs to encompass Detroit's region and bring it back to its center. So far he has helped things along quite a bit. Let's hope the big and small players follow his lead.

[darwinism]

There is a sense as darwinism said in his opening, that Gilbert is a player with a different kind of vision of capitalist heights and civic conscience allied to create more buzz in Detroit. The rencen seems to project a fortress mentality and this is not what Gilbert is attempting, he needs to encompass Detroit's region and bring it back to its center. So far he has helped things along quite a bit. Let's hope the big and small players follow his lead.

Absolutely true that a whole lot needs to be done, and it takes more than 1 man/woman, big and small players, working together with the rest of the community to make things happen.

Michigan Ave wouldn't be the way it is today without Phillip Cooley. Washington Blvd wouldn't be the way it is today without John Ferchill.

Dan Gilbert should be applauded for bringing thousands of people to occupy the spaces in Downtown Detroit over such a short timeframe.